diff --git a/scripts/headers_install.pl b/scripts/headers_install.pl
index 6c353ae8a45..581ca99c96f 100644
--- a/scripts/headers_install.pl
+++ b/scripts/headers_install.pl
@@ -42,9 +42,9 @@ foreach my $filename (@files) {
 		$line =~ s/(^|\s)(inline)\b/$1__$2__/g;
 		$line =~ s/(^|\s)(asm)\b(\s|[(]|$)/$1__$2__$3/g;
 		$line =~ s/(^|\s|[(])(volatile)\b(\s|[(]|$)/$1__$2__$3/g;
-		$line =~ s/#ifndef _UAPI/#ifndef /;
-		$line =~ s/#define _UAPI/#define /;
-		$line =~ s!#endif /[*] _UAPI!#endif /* !;
+		$line =~ s/#ifndef\s+_UAPI/#ifndef /;
+		$line =~ s/#define\s+_UAPI/#define /;
+		$line =~ s!#endif\s+/[*]\s*_UAPI!#endif /* !;
 		printf {$out} "%s", $line;
 	}
 	close $out;